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Updates: Job steady, affordable apartment across Fairfax | FFXnow

Housewife (by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

Fairfax County’s unemployment rate saw little movement year-over-year in the new data, while those looking to rent apartments across the county may be paying more than they would have a year ago.

The new figures represent employment levels reported in September and housing costs in October.

The unemployment rate in the state is not changing much

With 635,746 people employed in the public sector and 17,839 looking for jobs, Fairfax County’s unemployment rate was 2.7% in September, according to figures reported last Wednesday (Oct. 30) by the Commission on Virginia Work.

Last year, Fairfax’s unemployment rate stood at 2.6%.

Relatively small annual movement was also recorded in neighboring villages. Across Northern Virginia for the month, the unemployment rate of 2.8% in September 2024 rose from 2.7% last year.

Nationwide, annual unemployment rates rose in 67 states and cities, decreased in 36 and were unchanged in 30. The lowest unemployment rate in recorded in Highland County at 2.3%, the highest in Petersburg at 5.9%.

Among Virginia metro areas, Winchester and Charlottesville had the lowest unemployment rates at 2.7%, while Lynchburg had the highest at 3.6%. The seasonally adjusted national rate was 3.1%, up from 3% in September 2023.

For the Washington metropolitan area in September, the unemployment rate of 3.1% was up from 2.7% last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just over 3.5 million were employed as public workers, and about 109,000 were looking for work.

The country’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 3.9% in September rose from 3.6%. Year over year, the unemployment rate rose in 260 metro areas, fell in 101 and was unchanged in 28.

Renting an apartment every year is expensive

Apartment rental rates across Fairfax County have set a national trend and are reporting year-over-year gains.

Tysons reported the highest rental rates statewide and in Washington state for October, according to new data from The Apartment Directory. Median rental prices were $2,401 for one-bedroom units, $2,879.

Rents in Tysons rose 2.4% year-over-year according to the latest data, reported Oct. 31.

Additions have also been reported in other Fairfax County locations followed by Apartment Listings:

  • Annandale: Median rents were $1,827 for one-bedroom units, $2,084 for two-bedroom units, a 3.8% jump.
  • Centerville: Prices were $2,079/$2,416, up 11.6%.
  • Fair Oaks: Rates were $2,201/$2,461, up 6.1%.
  • Herndon: Rates were $1,783/$2,140, ​​up 4.5%.
  • Merrifield: Rates were $2,203/$2,830, up 3.7%.
  • Reston: Rates were $2,173/$2,300, up 7.1%.

The average rental rate of $2,183 for the DC area as a whole in October was up 3.3%, compared to a national decrease of 0.7%. The national median rental rate, including unit size, was $1,394 in Apartment Directory data.

Although still about $200 a month higher than pre-crisis times, the country’s annual rents have been in negative territory for about 18 months, Apartment List analysts said.

“As the flow of new properties collided with weak demand over the past two years, rents have increased only modestly during the peak of the move-in period, and have seen significant declines during the off-peak period,” analysts said about the country’s trends.

“We may see the decline in prices continue to close the year, as property owners offer moderate discounts to fill vacancies during the year when fewer tenants want to move,” they said.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash



  • A native of Northern Virginia, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience locally as well as in Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as an editor for the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers state and community news in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.


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